Advice for newly acquired 98 Tacoma w/ 150K

[TacoSR5]

My husband recently purchased a Toyota Tacoma w/ 150K highway miles and the guy mentioned something about a bypass filter. I need to call him to get the specifics on that... Anyway, if this were your truck, what would you do to condition it and transfer it over to synthetic? Would synthetic be a good idea for a truck with such high mileage? Also, since it has such high mileage, what oil weight would you use to make sure this thing goes another 150K?

I have a Jetta TDI and I've become quite well read on the diesel aspects of oil and such from the TDIClub but I'm having a hard time find a general discussion about Toyotas and how to take care of them for the long haul.

Can anyone point me in the right direction?? Any help would be much appreciated.

Thanks in advance!

 

[TacoSR5]

I guess I should add that it is a 2.7 4cyl, 5spd. That might help, eh?

 

[Islandvic]

I would recommend Valvoline MaxLife Dino. It has 15%PAO syn, though not marketed as a synblend (read from this forum and other places on the net).

I have used it before many times, good oil.

Bypass filter is probably mounted on the fender well.

It may add an extra quart of capacity to oiling system, but keep checking dipstick after refilling and letting engine idle, then check again.

The engine should be clean if the previous owner drove mainly highway miles and had bypass filter.

If you go the SYN route, just dump it straight in.

I switched to SYN in my '96 Crown Vic at 137k miles, and my consumption went down.

My brother switched his '95 Z-71 w/ 350 to syn at 157k miles, and his consumption stayed the same (he had preexisiting oil pump gasket leak, and aging motor).

As for syn, I would recommend Valvoline MAxLife Syn. It has multiple ACEA ratings, spec'd for long life requirements for MB, BMW, and VW.

Good stuff, it's in my Vic and my brother's truck now.

M1 10-30 is a great choice to, so is German Castrol 0-30.

I use M1 10-30 in my '00 Silverado 5.3.

OEM Toyo filters, WIX, and Bosch Premium filters are all great oil filters, but your by-pass filter may require another type.


Good Luck.

 

[haley10]

Hmmm, me thinks if the guy did install a bypass filter, he might have been a likely synthetic user. If you can get in touch, I would pump him for information. Pop the hood and see if you can see a bypass or read any info off of it.

It's a fair bet that if he did install a bypass, he was probably an Amsoil user. Not too many people install a bypass on a pickup and use conventional dino.